Heptamethine cyanines for use as fluorescent markers of the biliary and renal systems

1. A method for in vivo visualization of a renal system, comprising:

(i) administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a fluorescence agent comprising a compound of Formula IA in an amount sufficient to effect fluorescence detection of the portion of the renal system upon irradiation with light having a wavelength in the range of 650 nm to 900 nm:

wherein

R 1 is —CH 2 —,

each R 2 independently is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, or isopropyl,

R 3 and R 4 independently are C 1 -C 10 alkyl,

R 13 R 16 independently are C 1 -C 10 alkyl,

m is 3, and

p is 2, 3, or 4;

(ii) allowing time following the administration for accumulation of the compound of Formula IA in the renal system;

(iii) irradiating the renal system with light having a wavelength in the range of 650 nm to 900 nm (NIR) to produce a fluorescence signal of the compound of Formula IA in the renal system;

iv) visualizing at least one portion of the renal system by detection of the fluorescence signal produced upon the irradiation (iii);

wherein

a contrast to background ratio (CBR) of the fluorescence signal to a background signal in a region of the renal system being visualized is 1.5 or more within 20 minutes of the administration.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein administering the pharmaceutical composition comprises at least one route selected from the group consisting of oral, buccal, systemic, injection, transdermal, rectal, inhalation and insufflation.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the CBR remains 1.5 or more for at least 30 minutes.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutically and physiologically acceptable fluid, an excipient. a non-toxic wetting agent, a non-toxic emulsifying agent, a preservative and a pH buffering agent.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light source for irradiating the target system is selected from the group consisting of a laser, a light-emitting diode (LED), a xenon lamp, a halogen bulb and a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VSCEL).

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the compound of Formula IA is from 1 μg/kg to 240 μg/kg body weight of the subject.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an effective quantity of NIR light irradiating the target system is from 0.1 to 1000 mW/cm 2 .

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the fluorescence agent consists of the compound of Formula IA.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the irradiation is performed externally with a light applicator selected from the group consisting of a micro-lens, a Fresnel lens and a diffuser, or

the irradiation is performed internally with an endoscope or a fiber optic catheter.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the compound of Formula IA is the compound of the formula UL-766:

and the NIR is of a wavelength ranging from 600 nm to 850 nm.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a biliary:urinary specificity of the compound UL-766 is 5:95.

12. A surgical procedure within the abdominopelvic area. of a patient, comprising:

administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound UL-766;

allowing time for the compound UL-766 to accumulate in the ureter;

irradiating the abdominopelvic area with NIR of a wavelength from 600 nm to 850 nm to visualize the ureter by fluorescence of the UL-766 accumulated in the ureter; and

performing surgery within the abdominopelvic area during the visualization of the ureter;

13. The surgical procedure according to claim 12 , wherein the surgical procedure is an open surgery, a laparoscopic procedure or an endoscopic procedure.

14. The surgical procedure according to claim 12 , wherein the abdominopelvic surgical procedure is a gynecologic procedure, an obstetric procedure, a general surgical procedure or a urologic procedure.